On the 16 June 2015 the following matter be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report:

1. the impact of the 2014 and 2015 Commonwealth Budget decisions on the Arts; and 
2. the suitability and appropriateness of the establishment of a National Programme for Excellence in the Arts, to be administered by the Ministry for the Arts, with particular reference to:
   1. the effect on funding arrangements for:
      1. small to medium arts organisations,
      2. individual artists,
      3. young and emerging artists,
      4. the Australia Council,
      5. private sector funding of the arts, and
      6. state and territory programs of support to the arts,
   2. protection of freedom of artistic expression and prevention of political influence,
   3. access to a diversity of quality arts and cultural experiences,
   4. the funding criteria and implementation processes to be applied to the program,
   5. implications of any duplication of administration and resourcing, and
   6. any related matter. 

On 10 November 2015, the Senate granted an extension of time for reporting until 2 December 2015.

The publication of submissions is not an automated process and there can be a delay of several days between a submission being provided and it being published. Once a submission is accepted and approved for publication, the submitter is sent an acknowledgement letter advising of such. A large volume of submissions have been received to the inquiry into Commonwealth arts funding; the secretariat thanks you for your patience in this matter. 

The committee’s report is expected to be tabled in the Senate after 3.00 pm on Wednesday, 2 December 2015. Only after the report has been tabled will it be made available on the webpage (due to IT/web publishing processes, there may be some delay between the report’s tabling and it being available on the website).